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| XL bully ban: Police chief warns of challenges in enforcing law | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| XL bully Duke is muzzled by his owner last month ahead of the ban | XL bully Duke is muzzled by his owner last month ahead of the ban |
| A police chief has warned the ban on XL bully dogs, in force from today, poses "logistical challenges" for officers. | A police chief has warned the ban on XL bully dogs, in force from today, poses "logistical challenges" for officers. |
| Mark Hobrough, from the National Police Chiefs' Council, said the ban could spark higher demand for kennel space before court decisions. | Mark Hobrough, from the National Police Chiefs' Council, said the ban could spark higher demand for kennel space before court decisions. |
| A dangerous dog expert fears the ban will also compound an existing shortage of trained officers. | A dangerous dog expert fears the ban will also compound an existing shortage of trained officers. |
| The government says police will be supported and officers given extra training to identify XL bullies. | The government says police will be supported and officers given extra training to identify XL bullies. |
| New laws banning the breed in England and Wales take effect from Thursday. | New laws banning the breed in England and Wales take effect from Thursday. |
| For some months, owners have been able to apply for an exemption certificate if they can prove their dog had been neutered before a specific date. | For some months, owners have been able to apply for an exemption certificate if they can prove their dog had been neutered before a specific date. |
| They were also required to pay an application fee, hold liability insurance for their dog, and ensure it was microchipped. | They were also required to pay an application fee, hold liability insurance for their dog, and ensure it was microchipped. |
| More than 35,000 dogs are now registered for exemption but those owners without could face a criminal record and unlimited fine. | More than 35,000 dogs are now registered for exemption but those owners without could face a criminal record and unlimited fine. |
| The RSPCA has said tens of thousands of XL bullies may not have certificates with the estimated total in the UK ranging from 50,000 to 100,000. | The RSPCA has said tens of thousands of XL bullies may not have certificates with the estimated total in the UK ranging from 50,000 to 100,000. |
| XL bullies that are seized under the new regime will be taken to kennels before a court decides they should either be destroyed or deemed safe. | XL bullies that are seized under the new regime will be taken to kennels before a court decides they should either be destroyed or deemed safe. |
| Mr Hobrough, an assistant chief constable, said police forces were "actively looking to enhance" the numbers kennels can hold to cope with expected higher demand and "logistical challenges" for officers. | Mr Hobrough, an assistant chief constable, said police forces were "actively looking to enhance" the numbers kennels can hold to cope with expected higher demand and "logistical challenges" for officers. |
| The government said ministers met police chiefs this week to discuss their preparations. | The government said ministers met police chiefs this week to discuss their preparations. |
| 'Something will have to give' | 'Something will have to give' |
| Debbie Connolly, a dog behaviourist who acts as an expert witness in dangerous dog court cases, said she feared the ban would be difficult to enforce. | Debbie Connolly, a dog behaviourist who acts as an expert witness in dangerous dog court cases, said she feared the ban would be difficult to enforce. |
| She said it would "compound" the existing problems caused by the small numbers of officers trained specifically on dog legislation, and a lack of kennel space. | She said it would "compound" the existing problems caused by the small numbers of officers trained specifically on dog legislation, and a lack of kennel space. |
| "If officers are now told to go out and look for unmuzzled XL bullies, something will have to give," Ms Connolly told the BBC. | "If officers are now told to go out and look for unmuzzled XL bullies, something will have to give," Ms Connolly told the BBC. |
| There are 137 dog legislation officers across the country, with at least one in every force. | There are 137 dog legislation officers across the country, with at least one in every force. |
| The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which is responsible for animal welfare, said these officers will be given extra training to help successfully identify the XL bully breed. | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which is responsible for animal welfare, said these officers will be given extra training to help successfully identify the XL bully breed. |
| Ms Connolly said there had been an "endless influx" of people asking her training firm SafePets UK, for help over the last two or three weeks. | Ms Connolly said there had been an "endless influx" of people asking her training firm SafePets UK, for help over the last two or three weeks. |
| She said "hundreds" of pictures of dogs have been sent in and "the worrying part is a good 90% of them we didn't think were XL dogs". | She said "hundreds" of pictures of dogs have been sent in and "the worrying part is a good 90% of them we didn't think were XL dogs". |
| Certain criteria have to be met for a dog to be classed as an XL bully | Certain criteria have to be met for a dog to be classed as an XL bully |
| "You have to wonder how many of the dogs exempted are actually XL bullies," Ms Connolly said. | "You have to wonder how many of the dogs exempted are actually XL bullies," Ms Connolly said. |
| Mr Hobrough said illegal XL bully owners must comply with officers as their behaviour may influence how the court decides the case. | Mr Hobrough said illegal XL bully owners must comply with officers as their behaviour may influence how the court decides the case. |
| Courts look at whether both dogs and owners are aggressive and would have "no option but to destroy the dog" if either wasn't complied with, he said. | Courts look at whether both dogs and owners are aggressive and would have "no option but to destroy the dog" if either wasn't complied with, he said. |
| Officers who are met with resistance will take "proportionate action with minimum use of force" to seize dogs, Mr Hobrough added. | Officers who are met with resistance will take "proportionate action with minimum use of force" to seize dogs, Mr Hobrough added. |
| The government moved to ban the XL bully after a rise in fatal dog attacks. | The government moved to ban the XL bully after a rise in fatal dog attacks. |
| How does the American XL bully ban work? | How does the American XL bully ban work? |
| XL bully owners and victims speak out over ban | XL bully owners and victims speak out over ban |
| American XL bully safeguards confirmed for Scotland | American XL bully safeguards confirmed for Scotland |
| Before 2021 there were about three dog attack deaths per year but there have been 23 since, with the XL bully "disproportionately involved". | Before 2021 there were about three dog attack deaths per year but there have been 23 since, with the XL bully "disproportionately involved". |
| In September, Ian Price died after being attacked by two suspected American bully XL dogs in Stonnall, near Walsall, while Jack Lis, a 10-year-old boy, was killed by an American XL bully in Caerphilly in 2021. | In September, Ian Price died after being attacked by two suspected American bully XL dogs in Stonnall, near Walsall, while Jack Lis, a 10-year-old boy, was killed by an American XL bully in Caerphilly in 2021. |
| Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: "We have delivered our pledge to bring in this important measure to protect public safety, and we expect all XL Bully owners to comply with the strict conditions." | Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: "We have delivered our pledge to bring in this important measure to protect public safety, and we expect all XL Bully owners to comply with the strict conditions." |
| Restrictions on XL bully dogs were announced on Wednesday for Scotland and will start to take effect from 23 February with exemption certificates needed from 31 July. | Restrictions on XL bully dogs were announced on Wednesday for Scotland and will start to take effect from 23 February with exemption certificates needed from 31 July. |
| A decision on whether to ban the dogs in Northern Ireland is expected shortly. | A decision on whether to ban the dogs in Northern Ireland is expected shortly. |
| XL bullies registered as exempt must be microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled in public and be neutered to comply with the exemption rules. | XL bullies registered as exempt must be microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled in public and be neutered to comply with the exemption rules. |
| Owners who have missed the 31 January registration deadline are encouraged to contact their local police force if they think their dog is an XL bully. | Owners who have missed the 31 January registration deadline are encouraged to contact their local police force if they think their dog is an XL bully. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Dog attacks | Dog attacks |
| XL bully | XL bully |